NCAA Regional Day 1 Recap (Wednesday May 24)
NCAA Regional Day 2 Recap (Thursday May 25)
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.—Five University of North Carolina men earned trips to the NCAA Track & Field Championships on Friday’s third day of the 2023 NCAA East First Round, which was the final day of men’s competition.
Ethan Strand and Jesse Hunt both qualified for a trip to NCAA Outdoors in the men’s 1,500-meter run. Strand posted the fourth-best finish of the day in 3:49.40, building on his ACC championship in the event earlier this month. Hunt earned an NCAA trip for the third consecutive year, finishing third in his quarterfinal heat in 3:53.91 to earn an automatic bid on Friday.
Later in the day, Marshall Williamson earned his first career NCAA Outdoors berth, taking second place in his qualifying heat in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 8:49.85. Williamson’s time was his third-best this season after he’d posted a personal-best time of 8:45.99 two weeks ago in finishing ninth at the ACC Outdoor Championships.
Craig Saddler II earned a trip to Austin in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing third in 50.28 seconds. He won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship in the 400mH and earned his first trip to NCAA Outdoors.
Parker Wolfe finished 14th in the men’s 5,000 meters in 14:04.33 to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor meet for a first time. Wolfe, who finished fifth in the 5,000 at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships, sits in second place on UNC’s all-time outdoor performers list in the event with his 13:25.38 earlier this season.
Strand, Hunt, Williamson, Saddler and Wolfe all will join James Joycey (men’s hammer throw) and Madison Wiltrout (women’s javelin) in Austin on June 7-10.
The NCAA East First Round will conclude on Saturday in Jacksonville with the final day of women’s competition.
NCAA EAST FIRST ROUND (MAY 24-27)
FRIDAY MAY 26
1,500m
4. Ethan Strand, 3:49.40; 15. Jesse Hunt, 3:53.91
3,000m Steeplechase
12. Marshall Williamson, 8:49.85
400m Hurdles
3. CJ Saddler II, 50.28
5,000m
14. Parker Wolfe, 14:04.33; 20. John Tatter, 14:07.24
For the third-straight year, Jesse Hunt will be on the starting line in the NCAA 1500, thanks to a third-place finish and automatic Q in the East Region quarterfinal! #GoHeels 🐏 pic.twitter.com/32J93TS5ro
— UNC Track & Field • XC (@UNCTrack_Field) May 26, 2023
ACC 1500 Champ ✔️
NCAA 1500…
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